Week 6: Cincy.

This week we have the Bengals. You can make the case that they need it more then we do. But it is an important game for both teams. A loss for Cincy, combined with a likely Steeler win over Miami, would be very very bad for the Bengals. A win for Cincy would put them back in the hunt and give them a potentially crucial tiebreaker.

A win for the Pats would possibly knock CIncy out of the playoff hunt. It would keep the Pats a game ahead of Denver, and it would set up a game in Pittsburgh next week (assuming a Steeler win over Miami) that could easily determine the AFC #1 seed come January.

So, it does matter for both teams.

The weather should be warm and sunny with a high of 70 and wind gusts of up to 12 mph.

Key inactives for us are Brandon Bolden, LaAdrain Waddle, and Jamie Collins. In addition, LB Johnathon Freeny was put on IR yesterday, and CB Cyrus Jones is inactive. Given his fumble issues vs the Bills and his composure issues vs the Browns, I wonder if this is a punishment.

We start at the 25. Our drive was a mix of good and bad. The drive started with a high snap that Brady controlled and Blount got a 10 yard run. We also had a 29 yard catch by Gronk on 3rd and 9. Overall, however, Cincy played well. The 8 play drive ended with a 46 yard FG.

3-0 Pats 12:06 left.

Drive notes: The CBS crew, for whatever reason, was not expecting the Pats to use up tempo even though we have for a decade and they missed two snaps.

Cincy is playing great in coverage so far. They also used a timeout on the drive.

The Bengals start at the 16. 7 plays and a punt. The Bengals were being a little cautious, but they also had some nice rhythm going on the drive.

We start at the 20. 9 plays and a punt. The drive was going well until Hogan was called for a hold that put in 1st and 20. The Bengals D took advantage and stopped us at that point.

Drive Note: On the second play of the drive, after the snap, CBS gave us a sideline shot of Dalton sitting on the bench. Are we in August or October? How can you make that mistake?

The Bengals start at the 10. The Bengals use the rest of the quarter. When it ends, they have run 6 plays. They are staying patient, taking what the defense is giving. They almost had to punt, but a call on Logan Ryan gave them the first down. They will start the second with a 2nd and 7 from the Bengals 39 yard line.

We won the first, but to this point, the best unit on the field is the Bengals defense.

The Bengals drive ends up being impressive. They run five more dink and dunk effective style plays. Then, it looks as penalties will derail them, too. A false start on Uzomah, followed by a 1 yard run by Hill gave them 2nd and 14. Hill was called for holding the next play. I would have declined and taken 3rd and 14. The Pats accepted, for 2nd and 24. Then Dalton made big plays with completions to AJ for 16 and Bernard for 32 and a 1st and goal at the 6.

However, Gio gets the ball to the 1 on first down, and inside the 1 on second. Dalton goes to AJ on 3rd, but Butler knocks the ball down. They go for it on 4th and we stop the run. Turnover on downs. Pats ball.

We start at the 2. Four plays and a punt. Blount had a 14 yard carry to start the drive. After that, the Bengals controlled the drive. Sims sacked Brady on 2nd and 7. Iloka was hurt on the first play of the drive.

The Bengals start at the 40. They have a very good drive. Mostly, they stay with little stuff, but Dalton has three big plays. AJ with catches of 24 and 14 yards, and Boyd had one for 14. Dalton scored the TD on a very sweet option play. Great job by Cincy.

7-3 Bengals. 3:10 left.

We start at the 25. We have the drive go from bad to great! We do nothing on first down, and Burfict gets a sack on second. On 3rd, Brady misses Hogan. However, illegal contact on Kirkpatrick gets us a first.

We have four short plays that get two first downs. Then we strike. Brady finds Hogan for 39. We finish the drive with a 15 yard TD catch by White.

10-7 Pats. 1:01 left

The Bengals start at the 25. Three and out.

The half expires on the punt.

The second ended up being a tie. I think th Bengals are playing better than we are, at this point, but that last drive hopefully woke us up.

The Bengals start at the 20. They look good to start the half. 9 plays. A good mix of plays. Dalton has a 15 yard scramble and big plays to AJ for 23 and Boyd for 27. Jojo finishes the drive with a nice 5 yard TD catch.

14-10 Bengals, 11: 14 left.

Iloka is back in.

We start at the 26. Blown drive. We start with a great 16 yard catch by Blount. But, then a pitch to Blunt, a false start on Jules and a sack on Brady wrecked us. 4 plays and a punt.

The Bengals start on the 15. They have a bad drive. The lose 1 on first down. Dalton finds Green for 15, but it comes back on holding. On the next play, Hightower sacks Dalton in the endzone. Safety!

14-12 Bengals, 7:05 left.

We start at the 32 and we take advantage. 5 plays, 4 to Marty and Gronk. Marty with 2 for 23, Gronk with 2 for 42 and a TD.

19-14 Pats. 5:00 left

The Bengals start at the 25. Three and out!

We start at the 47. Great Drive! All passes. Gronk for 38, Marty for 11, A miss to Jules, then White catches the 4 yard TD. We miss the XP. Steven is having a bad season.

25-14 Pats. 2:58

The Bengals start at the 25. The Bengals keep the ball for the rest of the third. They have two big plays on the drink. A 13 yard pass to Kroft, and a 3 yard run by Hill on 4th and 1 that ends the third. On that play, Bodine (of Cincy) and Hamilton (of the Pats) were hurt.

We won the third and are stating to take control, but this game is not over.

They will start the 4th with 1st and 10 at the Pats 46. Bodine, the center, has been carted off. They run five more plays. Three are runs by Hill. One is a 30 yard catch by Boyd, and one was Rowe defending a pass to AJ and denying the TD. They make a 25 yard FG.

25-17 Pats, 12:34 left.

We start at the 25. The drive starts out as a normal one. It looked like it was going to be an 6 play drive ending in a punt, with just a 17 yard catch by Danny standinf out. But, a hold on Pacman Jones haves us a third down conversion. The Bengals dropped Blount, and then Gronk came to play. Two catches, 48 yards, and a well deserved taunting penalty (on Gronk) put us deep in Bengal territory. They held and we took a 31 yard FG.

28-17, 6:04 left. Ciincy has two timeouts left. We have three.

The Bengals start at the 25. 5 plays and a punt. The drive ends with a sack by Sheard and Hightower.

We start at the 50 with 3:32 left. 9 plays. 8 runs, 1 pass. Blount finishes it with a 1 yard TD. Cincy used the rest of it's timeouts.

35-17 Pats with :57 left.

After the TD there was a flag and Blount. It was a good call.

They start at the 27. They give Burkhead two carries and the game ends.

5-1!

And the Ben'less Steelers lose! Pats have command of thier own destiny at this point.